Postage stamp with stored information

ABSTRACT

A postage stamp includes digital information that can be played by the recipient of the letter or parcel bearing the stamp. The information can be digital in format and can be pictures, audio and/or a video presentation that the country issuing the stamp wishes to disseminate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of copending U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60/926,484, filed Apr. 27, 2007, by the sameinventor, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to postage stamps, and, more particularly,to a postage stamp on which displayable digital information is stored.

Typically, the postal service that is operated by a country's governmentis responsible for transporting mail to, from and within the country.Typically, a postal service maintains post offices that handle thetransport of the mail. Also typically, the postal service imposes acharge or fee on the sender for handling the mail. For each piece ofmail that the sender wishes to send, the sender must pay a postal fee inadvance of depositing the mail with the postal service. Each piece ofmail must bear proof that the postal fee has been paid. Otherwise, themail is returned to the sender, rather than delivered to the intendedrecipient. A postage stamp, which is almost always made of paper, is anofficial government instrument that constitutes one form of proof thatthe postal fee has been paid. An adhesive is typically provided on thestamp by which the stamp can be affixed to a piece of mail. When stampsare purchased from the postal service, the payor is given one or morestamps bearing a currency value that equals the amount paid. One or morestamps bearing in the aggregate the total postal fee for mailing thepiece of mail is affixed to it using the supplied adhesive, and thepiece is deposited with the postal service. After ascertaining thatstamps bearing the correct postal fee are affixed to the piece of mail,the postal service delivers it, in theory, to the intended recipient.

Thus, most conventional postage stamps are, physically, nothing morethan a piece of paper bearing a currency value and country of issue thatis affixed to a piece of mail using adhesive provided on the stamp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a postage stamp that includes stored digitalinformation that can be displayed. Accordingly, the present inventionprovides a digital dimension to postage stamps. Thus, the stamp providesthe function of a conventional postage stamp in the transport of mail.However, the stamp also can be used to display the digital informationto convey a message that is important to the country issuing the stamp.For example, some governments will find the invention to be an importantvehicle for enriching an understanding of their country by telling astory related to their country.

Preferably, the stamp is in the form of, or includes, an informationstorage medium. The storage medium can be any suitable digital storagemedium like a computer disc, CD-ROM or DVD's, and, typically, a miniCD-ROM or DVD, on which the information is recorded. The stamp caninclude both video and still photographs that can be viewed, as well asaudio that can be played. Though CD-ROM and DVD's are common in themarket, they have not been used as postage. The stamp is labeled withpostal information, like the currency value of the stamp and the countrythat issued the stamp, to enable it to fulfill its function as a postagestamp.

The stamp can be physically configured in any way that will allow it tobe affixed or mounted to a piece of mail and allow the postal service ofthe issuing country to determine whether the stamp shows that thecorrect postal fee has been paid. Various configurations can be designedto be used as postage stamps on various sizes and shapes of packages andletters. For example, in two of the preferred embodiments of theinvention, the stamp includes an envelope for housing the storagemedium. Adhesive on the back of the envelope allows the envelope andstorage medium to be affixed to a piece of mail.

In an alternate embodiment, the stamp includes a backing card bearing anadhesive on both its sides. One side of the backing card contains a snapfriction mount into which the storage medium interlocks. On the backsideof the backing card a double stick adhesive is attached. The adhesive onthe remaining side of the backing card can be covered with a sheet thatcan be peeled away to expose the adhesive. The side of the card bearingthe exposed adhesive can be pressed against the piece of mail to mountthe card, and storage medium, to the piece of mail, and the combinationof the two creates the stamp.

In another embodiment, the storage medium is affixed with adhesivedirectly onto a piece of mail as long as the adhesive is removable andwill not affect the playability of the storage medium.

In another embodiment of the invention, the storage medium is encasedwithin a pocket formed on the inside of a standard mailing envelope.With this embodiment, the envelope serves both as a component of thestamp, and the carrier for the piece of mail. Thus, this embodimentprovides the sender with an envelope that is pre-stamped.

Preferably, the adhesive by which the stamp is affixed to a piece ofmail is on a card attached to the storage medium, on the storage mediumitself, or on the back of an envelope into which the storage medium hasbeen placed.

The storage medium can be any type of medium in which information can bestored for playing back at a later time. Preferably, the information isin digital form. The storage medium can be a CD-ROM or DVD made out ofany material currently employed for that purpose. The stamp can beaffixed to a piece of mail in a variety of ways. Preferably, the stampis attached to a piece of mail using adhesive.

The postage stamp provided by the present invention bears postalinformation. Like a conventional paper stamp, the present invention canbear different denominations of a country's currency and the issuingcountry's name. The information borne by the storage medium of the stampcan be played on a computer or other device that can play theinformation contained on the stamp. If desired, the stamp can bearvisually perceptible graphics or pictures that relate to the digitalinformation on the storage medium.

The digital information stored on the storage medium can be anyinformation that the country issuing the stamp wants to disseminate. Theinformation can be in the form of still photographs or videos, and canalso include audio. For example, the information stored on the storagemedium can be a video crafted to enrich the understanding of the issuingcountry of those who receive the stamp on mailed items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment may beunderstood better if reference is made to the appended drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the presentinvention, showing a stamp in which the storage medium is a mini CD-ROMor DVD that is housed in a plastic envelope inside a paper envelope;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the stamp shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the stamp shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A and 4B show the paper envelope of the stamp shown in FIG. 1, inits unfolded, pre-assembly state;

FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the plastic envelope of the stamp shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 4D is a an exploded view of the plastic envelope of the stamp shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a top perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention, showing a stamp in which the storage medium is a CD-ROM or aDVD that is housed in an envelope;

FIG. 5B is a bottom perspective view of the stamp shown if FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a top plan view of the stamp shown in FIG. 5A, in which theenvelope is in its pre-assembled state, and in which the inside of theenvelope is shown;

FIG. 5D is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, inwhich the envelope is in its pre-assembled state, and in which theoutside of the envelope is shown;

FIG. 5E is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A,taken along the line 5E-5E;

FIG. 6A is a top plan view of another embodiment of the presentinvention, in which the storage medium is a CD-ROM or a DVD that isadhered to an adhesive backing card;

FIG. 6B is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A, withthe adhesive backing applied;

FIG. 6C is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A, absentthe CD-ROM or DVD;

FIG. 6D is a side sectional view of the stamp shown in FIG. 7A, takenalong the line 6D-6D;

FIG. 7A is a rear elevation view of another embodiment of the presentinvention, in which the storage medium is a CD-ROM or a DVD that ishoused in a pocket formed within a mailing envelope, with part of theenvelope removed to show the pocket;

FIG. 7B is a side elevation view of the pocket shown in FIG. 7A, with aCD or DVD-ROM sealed within the pocket;

FIG. 7C is a front elevation view of the mailing envelope shown in FIG.8, and

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the presentinvention in which the storage medium is a CD-ROM or a DVD that includesadhesive for adhering the CD-ROM or DVD to a letter or parcel;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The attached drawing shows several embodiments of the present invention.The appended claims encompass subject matter not specifically shown inthe drawing. For example, while a conventional CD-ROM or DVD, or a miniCD-ROM or DVD, functions well as the digital storage medium, the storagemedium can take any form that both allows digital information to bestored on the medium, and played back by a user, while allowing theinvention to function as a postage stamp. Similarly, the manner ofaffixing the stamp to or incorporating the stamp into a piece of mailcan take any form, so long as the postal information (for example,currency denomination and issuing country) remains visible during themailing and delivery process. The invention can vary in size, shape,material and configuration, so long as it can function as a postagestamp. The information stored on the stamp can be digital information.For example, the stored information can be digital video content, stillpictures, audio content, or audiovisual content. Typically, for example,the information will be audiovisual content that is stored on thestorage medium by the issuing country before it is purchased as apostage stamp by the sender of a piece of mail. For example, the issuingcountry can store a video on the stamp containing both audio and videothat tells a story about the issuing country that the government of theissuing country wishes to disseminate. The components of the stampsshown in the drawing can be constructed from a wide variety ofmaterials. For example, the envelopes shown in the drawing can be madefrom paper, plastic, or a combination of both.

FIGS. 1 through 4 show a postage stamp 400 that can be constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention, in which thestorage medium 412 is a mini CD-ROM or DVD that is housed in a plasticenvelope 404 inside an envelope 402. Postage stamp 400 fixes theposition of medium 412 within envelope 402 and with respect to viewingwindow 414 of envelope 402 using plastic envelope 404, rather than amounting disc or other device mounted on envelope 402.

Envelope 402 can be identical to envelope 14 of stamp 10, with theexception that envelope 402 does not include mounting disc 16. Instead,stamp 400 employs a plastic envelope 404 to fix the position andorientation of medium 412 with respect to window 414 using orientationguides 440. Envelope 402 defines two panels 450 and 452. Panel 452defines window 414. Panel 452 also defines three closing flaps 454, 456and 458, which, as with envelope 14, are used to seal envelope 402 inits closed position around a plastic envelope 404.

Plastic envelope 404 is formed from a pair of plastic panels 430 and 432that are heat sealed to each other at edges 416, 418 and 420 of panel430 and 417, 419 and 421 of panel 432 to form a pocket for medium 412,and an opening 422 through which medium 412 can be inserted intoenvelope 404 between panels 430 and 432. Panel 432 defines a closingflap 424 the can be folded over opening 422 to close envelope 404 andposition medium 412 in window opening 414. Side 426 of flap 424 bears anadhesive that adheres flap 424 to side 428 of panel 430 of envelope 404when flap 424 is pressed against side 428. Preferably, the adhesive isof any type that allows flap 424 to be removably adhered to side 428 bya sender, but removed from side 428 by the recipient to permit therecipient to easily remove medium 412 from within envelope 404. Panel430 also forms a notch 434 into which flap 424 is inserted as it isfolded over edge 436 of panel 430 to secure flap 424 to side 428. Flap424 is adhered to side 428 in such a manner that a part of flap 424bears against the bottom 438 of notch 434. This combination of bottom438 and flap 424 operates to prevent a medium 412 that has been insertedinto envelope 404 from moving to any significant extent toward opening422 and positions medium 412 in window 414. Thus, heat sealed edges 416,418 and 420 cooperate with flap 424 to fix the position of medium 412within window 414 of envelope 404.

Stamp 400 includes a registration feature that can be used to properlyand visibly ensure that the graphics, including postal information,applied to medium 412 can be viewed through window 414 in the desiredorientation. Four registration buttons 440 are formed on inside surface442 of panel 430. Buttons 440 form the corners of an imaginaryrectangle, and are used to orient medium 412 properly within envelope404. To that end, medium 412 bears four registration markings 444proximate central opening 446 of medium 412. Registration marks 444 canbe aligned with buttons 440 as medium 412 is inserted into envelope 404.When buttons 440 are aligned with marks 444, medium 412 is orientedproperly within envelope 404.

Heat sealed edges 416, 418 and 420 cooperate with flap 424 to ensurethat movement of medium 412 is limited sufficiently to permit full andconstant viewing of all desired graphics on medium 412 through window414.

In use, a medium 412, on which the desired digital information has beenstored, is inserted into envelope 404 through opening 422 andregistration buttons 440 are aligned with registration marks 444 onmedium 412. Flap 424 is pulled over bottom 438 of notch 434 and securedto side 428 in such a manner that flap 424 bears against bottom 438.Sealed envelope 404 is inserted completely between panels 450 and 452,edge 418 first, and flaps 454, 456 and 458 are used to adhere panels 450and 452 together around envelope 404 and medium 412. Stamp 400 is thenadhered to a letter or package in the same fashion as stamp 10. Therecipient of stamp 400 opens envelope 402 in the same manner as envelope14, and removes envelope 404. The recipient removes tab 424 from side428 of panel 430, removes medium 412 from within envelope 404, and playsthe content on medium 412.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D and 5E show a postage stamp 10 that can beconstructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention,in which the storage medium 12 is a CD-ROM or a DVD that is housed in anenvelope 14. Envelope 14 can be made of paper, plastic or a combinationof both materials. Envelope 14 defines a pair of sides 24 and 34, joinedto each other at a fold 36. Sections 24 and 34 can be folded toward andaway from each other at fold 36 to close and open envelope 14. Side 34defines an offset 50 in which medium 12 is seated when it is containedwithin a closed envelope 14. Envelope 14 defines a window 20 that may becovered with clear plastic 22 through which a medium 12 contained withina closed envelope 14 can be viewed. Surface 27 of side 24 bears anadhesive to allow side 24, and envelope 14, to be adhered to a piece ofmail. A protective sheet (not shown) may be removably adhered to side 27to prevent the inadvertent adherence of stamp 10 to an object.

Envelope 14 also defines flaps 28, 30 and 32. Flaps 28, 30 and 32 arejoined to side 34 at folds 38, 40 and 42, respectively. Sides 44, 46 and48 of flaps 28, 30 and 32, respectively, which may also carry anadhesive. Flaps 28, 30 and 32 are used to seal envelope 14 in its closedposition.

A central mounting disc 16 is incorporated into envelope 14 by mountingdisc 16 to surface 25 of envelope 14 in any suitable fashion. Disc 16can be of the standard type of ring that is commonly used to mount CD'sor DVD's to the inside of a case. Disc 16 is made of a flexiblematerial, like foam or flexible plastic. Consistent with common usage ofdisc 16, disc 16 is slightly larger than central opening 18 defined bymedium 12. As is well known, because disc 16 is flexible, it can beforced into opening 18 of medium 12 to mount medium 12 to panel 24 ofenvelope 14 by forcing disc 16 into opening 18 until the edges 26defining opening 18 compress disc 16 sufficiently to allow disc 16 to bepushed into opening 18. When disc 16 is forced into opening 18 andagainst surface 24, edges 24 allow disc 16 to expand slightly, at whichpoint edges 24 have captured disc 16. Medium 12 can be removed fromenvelope 14 by forcing medium 12 away from side 24 until edges 26compress disc 16 sufficiently to allow disc 16 to be removed from withinopening 18. The postal information should be applied to surface 52 ofpanel 34 to ensure that it can be viewed during the mailing and deliveryof the piece of mail to which stamp 10 is adhered.

Assembly of postage stamp 10 begins with the mounting onto disc 16 of amedium 12 on which the desired digital information has been recorded.After medium 12 is mounted onto disc 16, sides 24 and 34 of envelope 14are folded toward each other at fold 36 until sides 24 and 34 touch eachother and medium 12 is contained within offset 50. Then, adhesive sides44, 46 and 48 of flaps 28, 30 and 32, respectively, are folded at folds38, 40 and 42, respectively, toward surface 27 of side 24 until theycontact surface 27. Flaps are squeezed against surface 27 to adhereflaps 28, 30 and 32 to side 24. Finally, adhesive side 27 is pressedagainst a letter or parcel to adhere stamp 10 thereto. Once the letteror parcel is delivered, medium 12 can be removed from envelope 14 in anysuitable fashion to allow the digital information borne by medium 12 tobe played. Disc 16 ensures that movement of medium 12 is limitedsufficiently to permit viewing of all desired graphics on medium 12through window 20.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D show a postage stamp 100 that can be constructedin accordance with the teachings of the present invention, in which thestorage medium 112 is a CD-ROM or a DVD that is adhered to an adhesivecircular backer card 102 that can be made of any suitable material,including paper, plastic, or a combination of paper and plastic. Backercard 102 is, preferably, about the same size or slightly larger thanmedium 112 to accommodate the mounting of medium 112 to backer card 102.Alternately, backer card 102 can be of a larger size to allow more roomfor displaying artwork or information on stamp 100 in addition to theminimum postal information that must be borne by a postage stamp. Aconventional split button closure 104 is mounted to surface 106 ofbacker card 102. Split button closure 104 is a well-known device foundin DVD and CD cases for releasably mounting a CD or DVD to the case.Split button 104 fits within central opening 108 defined by medium 112.As is well known, split button 104 can be squeezed together to compressbutton 104 and to insert button 104 into central opening 108. Button 104can then be released to allow button 104 to expand and capture medium112. To remove medium 112 from backer card 102, button 104 is squeezedtogether to compress button 104 and allow medium 112 to be disengagedfrom button 104 to remove medium 112 from backer card 102. Alternately,medium 112 can be manipulated until it is forced from button 104.

Backer card 102 defines a pair of curved retainers 114 and 116 that helpretain medium 112 in place until a user wishes to remove medium 112 frombacker card 102. Retainers 114 and 116 curve over the edge of medium 112when medium 112 is mounted on backer card 102. Side 120 of backer card102 bears an adhesive for adhering backer card 102 to a letter orparcel. Postal information may be applied to surface 122 of medium 112,which is visible after stamp 100 is adhered to a letter or parcel. Aprotective sheet (not shown) may be removably adhered to adhesive side120 to prevent inadvertent adherence of stamp 100 to a surface.

In use, a medium 112, on which the desired digital information has beenstored, is mounted to backer card 102 by forcing button 104 into centralopening 108 of medium 112 until medium 112 is engaged with button 104.The protective sheet, if any, is removed from adhesive side 120 ofbacker card 102, and adhesive side 120 is adhered to a letter or parcelto adhere stamp 100 thereto. Upon receipt of the letter or parcel, thereceiver may remove medium 112 from backer card 102 in any conventionalmanner in which a conventional CD or DVD is disengaged from its case.The information stored on medium 112 can then be played in any suitablefashion.

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C show a postage stamp 200 that can be constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention, in which thestorage medium 212 is a CD-ROM or a DVD that is housed in a plasticpocket 202 formed inside a mailing envelope 204. Envelope 204 includes afront panel 222 and a rear panel 224. Front panel 222 defines a closingflap 226 having an edge 234 that bears an adhesive. Flap 226 can befolded at fold 228 to seal envelope 204. Mailing envelope 204 alsodefines a clear window 206 through which medium 112 can be viewed.Window 206 may be covered with clear plastic 208. Plastic pocket 202 isformed by adhering three edges 214, 216 and 218 of a sheet of plastic232 together and securing formed pocket 202 onto inside surface 220 ofenvelope 204. Thus, pocket 202 defines an opening 230 into which medium212 can be inserted into pocket 202. After insertion of medium 212 intopocket 202, end edges 215 (only one shown) of plastic sheet 232 togetherto seal medium 212 within pocket 202. The size of pocket 202 ensuresthat movement of medium 212 is limited sufficiently to permit viewing ofall desired graphics on medium 212 through window 206.

In use, stamp 200 is assembled by inserting a medium 212, on which thedesired digital information has been stored, into pocket 202 throughopening 230. Opening 230 is then sealed by heat sealing to each otherend edges 215 of plastic sheet 232. The sender purchases stamp 200, andthe documents or letters that are to be mailed are then inserted intoenvelope 204. Flap 226 is folded at fold 228 toward panel 224 until flap226 contacts panel 224. Adhesive edge 234 of flap 226 is pressed againstpanel 222 to seal envelope 204. Address information for the recipient ofthe letter can be applied to panel 222. Therefore, stamp 200 functionsas the stamped mailer of the documents or letters.

FIG. 8 shows a postage stamp 300 that can be constructed in accordancewith the teachings of the present invention, in which the storage medium312 is a CD-ROM or a DVD that bears an adhesive on one side. An adhesiveis applied to surface 314 of medium 312 that is used to adhere stamp 300to a letter or parcel. The adhesive should be of the type that isremovable from the surface of medium 312, and that will not negativelyaffect the playability of the digital information contained on medium312. A removable protective sheet (not shown) may be applied to adhesivesurface 314 of medium 312 to prevent the inadvertent adherence of medium312 to a surface. Postal information may be applied to surface 316 ofmedium 312, which is visible after stamp 300 is adhered to a letter orparcel.

1. A postage stamp comprising: a medium on which digital information isstored and from which said information can be played; postal informationapplied to said stamp; and an adhesive for applying said stamp to anitem to be mailed.
 2. The postage stamp recited by claim 1 wherein saiddigital information is audiovisual information.
 3. The postage stamprecited by claim 2 wherein said audiovisual information is a videopresentation.
 4. The postage stamp recited by claim 1 wherein saiddigital information is a still photograph.
 5. The postage stamp recitedby claim 1 wherein said digital information is audio information.
 6. Thepostage stamp recited by claim 1 wherein said medium is a compact disc,or CD.
 7. The postage stamp recited by claim 1 wherein said medium is adigital video disc, or DVD.
 8. The postage stamp recited by claim 1wherein said medium is housed in an envelope that bears an adhesive usedto apply said envelope to an item to be mailed, said postal informationbeing visible when said medium is housed within said envelope.
 9. Thepostage stamp recited by claim 8 wherein said envelope can contain theitems to be mailed.
 10. The postage stamp recited by claim 1 whereinsaid stamp includes a backer card to which said medium may be removablymounted, and said adhesive is applied to said backer card so that saidstamp can be adhered to the item to be mailed.